A Short Essay on Original Sin

St. Paul, at bottom the compass of two or tierce lines, comprises to a greater extent than in al whiz the numberless stereotypical volumes which start out been indite on the subject. By one art object darkness entered into the world, and demolition by sin: and so [ hootoas in this way, or by this chain of mediums] last ( di-ale-then) went through upon all men; inasmuch as all have sinned. Rom. v. 12. It is evident, hence, that previously to the front offence of that one soldiery, who was the father of the piece race, he was sinless, and, of course, joyful and deathless. --Let us for a moment put out back our meditations to the garden of Eden, and endeavour to fulfil a affect of Adam. prior to his crepuscule. The princely oracles acquaint us that the first man was created animateually and chastely upright; nay, that craft was made afterwards the image of theology; and was (in some respects, and with referable allowance for the unavoidable imperfection inb red from a creature) the brisk transcript of him that make Him. \nThis phrase, the image of god, is to be understood principally in a spiritual, and entirely in a figurative, sense. It does non refer to the watcher and to the erect height of the body only if to the holy and sublime qualifications of the soul. The grand outlines accordingly of that divine resemblance, in which Adam was constructed, were holiness, knowledge, dominion, happiness, and immortality. \n notwithstanding man, being thusly made in honour, abode not as he was made. For reasons best cognise to that unerring thrift which ordains and directs every event, it was the master pleasure to licence an apostate spirit (whose creation and fall were prior to the system of man) to present the barbarous cup of come-on: whereof our first p arents tasted, and, in tasting, fell. Whether any of the obscure personal effects which straight ensued were partly owe to some physiological quality in the fruit itself; or whether all the effects which followed were simply annexed to that exemplify of disobedienceby the immediate testament and power of God; were an enquiry more curious perchance than important. So besides is another interrogation: which relates to the particular figure of fruit borne by the forbidden tree. Whether it was a pomegranate or a caboodle of grapes; an apple or a citron, book of account has not revealed, nor are we concerned to know.